Surfing

History of surfing in Bali
How it began:
Surfing in Bali began in 1936, when American Bob Koke, a Californian, who had moved from Hawaii, with his wife Louise, opened the Bali Hotel on Kuta Beach. Bob had a long board he had brought with him from Hawaii and the rest was history. Surfing didn’t immediately catch on though and lucky old Bob had all the waves to himself (he had the whole Bukit to himself, only he didn’t know it was there). The 1960’s saw the start of surfers trickling into Bali and after Kim Bradley, Jerry Lopez and others discovered the Bukit peninsula and the other breaks the scene was set.

Why is Bali a great surf destination:
Bali is a good place for surfing for a number of reasons. These include warm water, relatively uncrowded breaks, when compared to California and Australia. Bali gets some kind of surf most of the year, there are beach breaks and Kuta and Dreamland and also reef breaks on the rest of the Bukit, including the famous Uluwatu. Bali’s unique geography, means that you can get a selection of left hand breaks on one side of the Bukit, drive for 20 minutes and get another whole selection of right hand breaks. In Lombok, for example, you’d have to ride for 4 hours or more, to get from one side of the island, to the other.

During the dry season (April-October), the trade winds favour surfing the western side of the coast, including the breaks on the western Bukit including Uluwatu and Bingin. During the wet season (November-March) the tides and winds favour the eastern coast including the eastern Bukit breaks such as Nusa Dua and Sri Lanka.

Surfing regions in Bali:
You could say that there are 4 basic surfing regions in Bali, West Bali (Medewi, Balian), South Bali (Canggu, Gado Gado, Padma, the Bukit (Bingin, Balangan, , Nusa Dua, Sri Lanka) East Bali (Ketewel, Keramas, Nusa Lembongan (Playgrounds, Shipwrecks, Lacerations).

The best beginning waves in Bali:
Kuta Beach is the ultimate beginner’s wave. Complete with long sandy beach, plenty of people on hand as well as a surf recuse tower and jet-ski. Competition isn’t too fierce either making this beach a good learning environment.

Padma is a kilometer north of Kuta Beach and has a nice little wave at high tide.

Best waves in Bali:
The most famous wave in Bali is Uluwatu on the tip of the western Bukit. This is actually 5 breaks that combine to draw the top surfers from around the world.

Padang Padang on the western Bukit is known to be one of the best performance waves in Bali.

Balangan is a reef break, but at high tide is suitable for beginners. Great sand beach, long fun ride.

The best surfing breaks in Bali as far as performance are Uluwatu which sees good size surf and had 5 breaks. Bingin, which has a short fast barrel, Padang Padang which has a fast barrel and dangerous reef, and Nusa Dua.

Balian -
When people think of surf spots in west Bali, they think of Medewi. Balian is located on the SW coast of Bali west of Soka Beach, not as far as Medewi. Balian offers a tranquil setting with ever increasing accommodation options.

Bingin -
Bingin is one of the famous surfing breaks of the Bukit Peninsula. The short, fast barrel is a joyride for those who dare. Exactly what is out there at Bingin and who is it good for?

One place that is ideally suited for surfers who have to be close to the water is Chocky’s Place. This guest house is run by Australian Kenny Cole and offer decent accommodation right on the beach at Bingin. For surfers who are planning their first trip to Bali, Bingin is a short fast left-hander. The take-off point is often crowded, but when you catch a wave there, you’ll see what all the fuss is about.

Chocky’s Place
Bingin Beach
Bali
Bali phone: + 62 81805444833. Australia phone: + 61 410312728
Email:info@chockysplace.com

Ketewel -
Ketewel is no Kuta Beach when it comes to beauty. This black sand beach is littered with driftwood and the remains of offerings. Tourist don’t come to this beach to sunbathe, they come to surf. When I showed up today, there were about 20 people in the water, the sun was shining, winds were down and there was some swell.

Access to the beach is easy and there is a limited amount of parking right at the beach. The one warung serves simple snacks and drinks. A teh panas ( hot tea cost 1,000rp). Asking the warung owner about accommodation in the area for surfers, he’ll say ‘tidak ada‘ (don’t have). Most people either stay in Kuta or Sanur, coming out to surf then heading back.

The surfing crowd at Ketewel usually consists of locals and Japanese, including girls on body boards. Sitting next to 2 Japanese guys admiring the view the atmosphere seemed quite civilized. Another 12kms east along the Bypass and you’ll come to Keramas, another wet season surf spot. Ketewel seemed like a place beginners / intermediates might enjoy, not people looking for epic surfing. Surprisingly WannaSurf describes it as a ‘regional classic, pro’s and kamikazi’s only’. Beach access has improved. Driving time from Kuta 30 minutes.
http://www.baliblog.com/travel-tips/the-surfing-scene-at-ketewel-bali.html

Green Ball -
To get to Green Ball, you head up the hill onto the Bukit, from Bypass Ngurah Rai (heading to Nusa Dua), then at the 4 way intersection (Nusa Dua, Uluwatu, Balangan), turn left towards Nusa Dua. You will see a sign for the Bali Cliff Resort, and the surf beach at Green Ball.

Arriving at Green Ball you’ll see a dirt parking area, with an old guy selling drinks. A small water was 3,000rp, so best to bring your own drinks if price in a concern. There are a couple of hundred concrete steps leading form the cliff, down to the sand beach.

For us non surfers, Green Ball is an okay beach to relax on. Devoid of trees, the cliffs provide some shade. The water is relatively clean and to the right of the beach is a large cave with bats.

Learning to surf in Bali

Bali surfing web resources
Here are some websites worth checking out for info and entertainment.
Wannasurf
BaliWaves
MagicWave produces a surf community magazine.
MagicSeaweed
PaluSurf

Renting a surfboard in Bali
Do not rent from the guys on the beach. All those boards are snapped, and will snap again at some point, in the same place. When that happens, the owner will demand $300. Australian Palu from Byron Bay, has 3 shops in the Kuta area selling boards, as well as a surf school. He also has a selection of used boards for rent of sale. Palu does a range of boards, focusing on the learner end of the market. Ollie did find a fish type board, ideal for an experienced surfer in small swell. The prices for the brand new rental for a week was 600,000rp. The price to buy its was 2.5m rp. Short term rental include 20,000rp per hour, 150,000rp, 600,000rp, deposit or passport required. Day surf trips can be arranged, including lunch for $100.

Buying a surfboard in Bali:
The Kuta area offers plenty of choice for those wishing to buy a new surfboard. Here is an interview with Australian board maker Palu in Kuta Bali. Epoxy boards are available in the Kuta area as well as brand name boards in the big surf shops such as Rip Curl.

Bali surfing local resources
Magic Wave is a local community newspaper available for free in the Kuta / Seminyak area. Here’s an interview with editor Ebong.

Tide charts are freely available in many surf shops around Bali, especially in the Kuta area. Beginners should only surf at high tide, more experienced surfers being able to pick their moment with a bit more accuracy.

Surf gear in Bali
Surfer girl-
Surfer Girl is one of Bali’s most well known shops. Located on Jl. Legian in Kuta, the shop offers bright, fun beach wear for ladies. Surfer Girl is owned by an Australian guy, who is a great supporter of local charities, and helps out at the Kuta Karnival.

Surfing movies
Bali’s tourism industry owes a lot to surfing, after all it was the surf at Kuta Beach that first drew Aussies here in the 60’s and 70’s. The surf movie is a part of the culture too, with epics like The Endless Summer, Morning of the Earth and Riding Giants leaving viewers not just with a sense or awe, but with a vivid memory of the place they were filmed.

Surfing is a huge part of Bali’s attraction. Instead surfing’s success in intertwined with the rise of tourism in Bali. Many of the early warungs and guests houses in the Kuta area were there to serve the surfers who ventured over from Australia, to discover the mysteries of Bali. Bali and Indonesia are the ultimate adventure for surfers, who can explore the archipelago cheaply and discover new breaks. Back in 1970 many of Bali’s famous breaks were still undiscovered, or at least, unpublicized. People talk about the ‘Secret Place‘ (Uluwatu) and how word got around of the great waves out there. From Kuta it took hours to get to due to the lack of roads and obstacles in the way.

In 1971 Australian Albert Falzon filmed Morning of the Earth, a classic surf movie, that took in footage of surfers in Australia, Hawaii and Bali. Uluwatu was ‘discovered’ in Morning of the Earth, as far as the surfing world was concerned.

Timmy Turner’s ‘Second Thoughts‘ is a surf-doco about his trip to the jungles of west Java, to surf barrels on an uninhabited Indonesian island. Its knarley dude!

Surfing Lombok
Lombok is only 30 minutes from Bali by plane, yet it is like stepping into a different era. Longterm Bali visitors, tell me stories of Poppies Lane being a sand track, and Legian being the outer reach of westernization, warungs serving only Indonesian food, and the barest of western dishes. Those days are long gone, but a trip to the south coast of Lombok, will put you right back in that era.

Surf Charities:
Baliwaves
BaliWaves is a surf website that has been around since 1999. They have started doing their bit to help Balinese orphans, so I thought I’d give them a plug.

Baliwaves helps with sponsoring orphans to get education via the International Humanity Foundation.

SurfAid
SurfAid International is a charity run by a Kiwi, that harnesses the surfing community, to help fund basic malaria prevention and other health education work in the Mentawai’s. Yahoo! talks about the work SurfAid did after the Asian tsunami.

Surfing Mentawai’s:
the 2 best surfing destinations in the world were Hawaii and the Mentawai islands, of the west coast of Sumatra. An article by one of the guys who discovered the Mentawai’s, backs that up.

Surfing tours:
Surf tour companies will take the hassle out of getting from Bali to the waves in other parts of Indonesia. So while it is possible to get a flight from Bali to Padang, Sumatra, then catch an overnight ferry to the Mentawai’s or Nias, dealing with local transport and lodging etc. Most people get fixed up with a Surf Tour operator in the Kuta area. These operators are mostly located on Poppies II and Jl. Benesari and will arrange all the transportation for you. One of the most reliable is SurfTravelOnline. Lombok, G-Land in East Java, Sumbawa and the Mentawai’s are the top surf tour places from Bali.

Ding Repair:
Ding repair shops are easy to find in Kuta on Poppies II and Jl. Benesari. Most serious breaks such as Uluwatu, Bingin etc. will have ding repair guys operating in the high season (June-October)

Indonesian Surfing Championships:
The Indonesian Surfing Championships are an organized series of surfing competitions in Bali and other parts of Indonesia, open to local and foreigners. A great opportunity to get a look at some of the best surfing in Indonesia.

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FAQ about Bali

Take some know about Bali...

Q: Where is Bali? A: The Province of Bali is a part of Indonesian Republic, located in central side of Indonesian archipelago. On the western side, Bali separated from East Java by Bali Strait and on the eastern side it's separated from Lombok by Lombok Strait. Geographically, the Province of Bali is located 80-30’-40" to 80-50’-48" south of the Equator and 1140-25’-53" to 1150-42’-40" east longitude. Q: Where is Nusa Dua? A: Nusa Dua Area is located on southern part of Bali Island (please see map of Bali here), about 30 km from city center (Denpasar), south direction Q: How far is nikko bali resort & spa from airport? A: nikko bali resort & spa is about 14 km (25 minutes) from Ngurah Rai International Airport, South East direction. Q: How is the climate in Bali? A: The island’s climate is mild year-round since it is situated 8 degrees south of the equator. Located in tropical area, Bali has 2 seasons: April - October is dry season and October - April is the rainy season. Average monthly temperatures vary from 27° C - 30° C in February and March. The weather is most pleasant in the dry cooler months between June and September. Q: What is common language used in Bali? A: In Bali, Bahasa Indonesia is official language while Bahasa Bali is local language, but English is widely spoken. Q: Can I have airport pickup? A: Yes, We provide airport pickup with additional charge that will be mentioned when you make a booking. Q: How is children policy applied in Nikko bali Resort & Spa? A: Children under 5 years old get free of charge for breakfast, and children under 12 years old get 50% discount for breakfast. No additional room charge applied if children sharing room with parents with no additional extra bed. Maximum capacity of the room is 2 adults and 2 children. Additional charge will be applied for extra bed(s). Q: How is day use policy of the hotel, check-in time, and check out time? A: Check-in time:15:00hrs ; Check-out time: 12:00 ; Day use until 18:00hrs, 50% room charge will be applied, after 18:00hrs full charge will be applied. Q: Do you have watersports? A: Watersports are available nearby, however we have watersport counter at our beach.

What is the best surf spot in bali indonesia?

This is the best sufr spot in bali Indonesia..

Answerer1 : Padang Padang or Kerama's... Without the crowds.

If you count the crowds, then pretty much every wave on the bhukit peninsula is shiit.
Answerer2 : yomother's on the ball, the are a few secerts out there, hint hint, go see for yourself

Where is Bali?

Hearing the name "Bali" often brings images of a tropical paradise to mind. Although Bali is, in fact a tropical paradise, where exactly is it and what is so unique about it?

Bali

is one of 17,000 islands (6,000 inhabited) in the archipelago that make up the country of Indonesia. It is 145 km (90 miles) long and 80 km (50 miles) wide. As shown on the map below, Bali is situated just east of the island of Java and west of Lombok.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation with 231 million people; interestingly, most of Bali's 3 million people are Hindu. Although many of the islands that make up Indonesia are beautiful and appealing, Bali is particularly attractive. Much of the island is surrounded by beautiful beaches with clear water. Mount Agung, an active volcano, towers 3,142 m (10,308 feet) above the terrain in the center of the island. Hindu temples dot the landscape and the fertile island overflows with green rice paddies.

Bali also has a fascinating cultural tradition. Ubud, in the center of the island, is known for arts and crafts including woodcarving, batik-making and painting. Balinese dance and Gamelan orchestra performances are common. Small artistic touches are evident throughout much of the island in the form of small offerings presented to Hindu Gods.

Bali Beaches

Bali is one of the most visited vacation hotspots in the world. Situated in Indonesia, it was once named as the best island destination in the world by Travel and Leisure magazine. It attracts huge number of travelers from all over the world with its fun filled, palm fringed beaches known for having white sand. Bali has a many beaches, all of which are easily reachable from Despansar airport.

The line of beaches on the island of Bali includes Sanur beach, Jimbaran, Soka beach, Nusa Dua, Medewi beach, Lovina beach, Kuta, and Legian beach. Locals and tourists popularly go after Legian beaches, which are famous for their magnificent view of sunset. Surfing is a major activity here and the best waves are a 5 to 10 minute drive from Despansar airport.

Nusa dua beach has a chain of hotels placed on the sandy shores and these hotels provide luxurious swimming experience in protected lagoons, as well as fabulous gourmet food served on site.

Sanur beach is easily reachable from Despansar. Sanur has calm, secluded lagoons, which are favorites for lots of activities like wind surfing, parasailing, and excellent for families.

Between Despansar and Gilimanuk, two wonderful beaches called Soka beach and Mediwi beach are present. Jimbaran attracts many local families and tourists with its beauty and superb seafood restaurants that line along the beaches. Jimbaran is placed on the way from Despansar to Nusa Dua, directly to the south of Despansar airport.

Lovina is the most inspiring beach in Bali that attracts large number of tourists, irrespective of the season. A number of people visit this beach to view schools of dolphins swimming and playing in the waters.

Kuta is home to the whitest beach in Bali, and is just a 5 to 10 minute drive from Despansar. Kuta could be very well called the tourist mecca, because of its shops, pubs, and fully equipped first class hotels. Kuta is famous among skilled swimmers and recognized for its unpredictable underwater currents - novice swimmers should use caution when swimming at this beach.

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Bali Vacations

If you are suffering from stress and looking forward to a wonderful time away from work with your family, then perhaps Bali is the vacation spot that you are looking for. Recovering from the major devastations brought by the terrorist attacks in the past years, Bali vacations now offer many attractive deals that entice you to enjoy the splendor of this place.

Bali vacations have a lot to offer to vacationers. From historical places to scenic views, you can find a variety of activities and places to explore. However, there is one main reason why many visitors keep coming back to Bali, and that is Bali’s image as beach destination.

There are lots of beaches that can be found in Bali. One of the most popular is the Kuta beach, which stretches from the airport in Tuban over main Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Kerobokan and all the way to Canggu. Kuta is the perfect place to go sunbathing during the day and socializing at night because usually this place starts to become crowded as soon as the sun sets. However, it is very risky to swim alone in Kuta if you are an untrained swimmer. It would be better if you only swim on the Tuban part of it.

When you move further south to Bali, you will find another beach that is suitable for swimming. Nusa Dua is one of the famous destinations in Bali because of its resort centers. You and your family will sure have a great time here because of its perfect beaches, dreamland of coconut palms, and five-star hotels. You can go sunbathing here and play in the sand with your kids. You can even make sand castles.

All these and more can make your Bali vacation an experience that you and your family will never forget.

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Bali Culture

Bali is an Indonesian island that is rich in indigenous culture. A lot pf people say that Bali culture is unique and that the people of Bali have always been contented with the “now.” If you ask a Balinese person what heaven is like, the probable answer will be “just like Bali”. This only goes to show that most Balinese people are happy to be where they are and never worry.

One factor that contributes to this laidback lifestyle is the culture of close family ties in Bali. In the Balinese culture, support is always available. Balinese extended families are so tightly knit that all members usually reside in the same complex.

Hinduism is one of the main religions in Bali. The Bali culture is based on a form of this religion, which is called “Hindu Darma”. This religion reached the island during the eleventh century. Most of the family customs and traditions as well as community lifestyles of the Balinese people are influenced by this. The religious influence even expands widely into the arts, which makes Bali distinct from the rest of Indonesia.

In spite of the influx of tourists to the island, Balinese people have managed to preserve their culture. Almost every native of Bali is an artist in some form or another. Parents and villagers have passed on their skills to their children, who all seem to have inclinations either to music, dance, painting, and decor.

Another remarkable mark of the Bali culture is the series of ceremonies and rituals known as the Manusa Yadnya. This marks the different stages of Balinese life. Cremation is very popular on this island – and unlike in the West, death is a joyous and colorful event for the Balinese.

Indeed, Bali has a rich culture, making it distinctive from the rest of the islands in Indonesia.

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Bali

Bali is an Indonesian island that is known for its rich culture and scenic nature. Located at the east of Java and south of the equator, Bali has a surface area of only 5,632 square kilometers and measures fifty-five miles along the north-south axis and less than ninety miles from east to west. Because of this, anyone can explore the island for a day, visit many beautiful places, and be able to return to the hotel in the evening.

Bali has now come a long way since the first settlers immigrated to this place from China in 2500 BC. Nowadays, it has a total population of over 3 million people, of which the majority of these are Hindus, while there are a few people who are Muslims. Most of these people live in the coastal areas in the South and others live in Despansar, which is Bali’s capital, with a current population of over 370,000.

Textiles, handicrafts, and garments are the backbone of the economy of Bali; they provide thousands of jobs and, when exported, these contribute about 45% to Bali’s economy. The hotel and tourist industry in Bali also continues to boom as more and more people find Bali a totally relaxing tourist destination. Over the years, many people come and visit beautiful tourist locations in Bali such as the town of Kuta, Sanur, Seminyak, Jimbaran, and Nusa Dua. There are several available activities in these places, including diving, snorkeling, paragliding, cruising, rafting, and even mountain climbing.

However, due to the terrorist attacks in October 2002 and October 2005, not only properties were lost but many lives as well. The devastation that was caused to the island affected not only the people of Bali but also those who planned to travel to this place. Many people changed their minds because of their fear that terrorists might attack once again.

Indeed, Bali has come a long way. And although terrorists’ attacks happened in the past, the determination of the Balinese people never fades, thus, they continue to look forward to a much brighter tomorrow.

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